Still in that self-induced state of limbo. Since last, I have recorded my voice over. I just did it one morning and haven't touched it since. It's been a whirlwind of the holidays, assignments mounting at work, and my annual trip to see The Boys™. I just got home Saturday night and recuperated on Sunday.

All of that doesn't mean I have been entirely stagnant. On my flight up, I finally took the time to watch Memento's chronological cut, which was the last "task" I wanted to do before working on my essay about Nolan's work and The Last of Us Part II. My brain has also been chewing on those ideas for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Tunic. Really, my brain has been thinking about any essay except the Ragnarök one. I don't know if that says more about the essay or about me. I suspect me.

I realize that the only real time I have to work on these projects is the morning. And for the past three months, I have primarily given my mornings to playing games. I'm doing so now with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond so we can finish out Season 7 of Chapter Select. I think after that, I need to give some of my mornings back to creation instead of all consumption.

It has to be a balance, right? I can't make essays or come up with new ideas if I don't play, but I can't play games if I don't, you know, play them. Perhaps I need a schedule of sorts...Kind of like, now stick with me, underwear with days of the week on them? Certain mornings are dedicated to play and some to creating. Not so rigid that I can't change it up, but enough structure where progress is made in a consistent manner. Perhaps I have even had this idea before? In this newsletter? I'm not sure and I don't really want to ask Claude right now.

For now, I want to make it through the busyness of the holidays and beat Prime 4. Those feel like doable goals. Anything else these next three weeks will be icing on the cake.

Until next time...